From the Diocese's LGBTQIA Committee:
On October 22, 2022, just eight months following its formal organization as a diocesan committee, the LGBTQIA+ Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania reached an important milestone in its advocacy for queer affirmation and inclusion in life of the Church. The diocese’s annual Convention passed a resolution written and proposed by the Committee, titled “Resolution Affirming LGBTQIA2S+ Welcome in the Life of the Church, and Promoting Dedicated Pastoral Care for the LGBTQIA2S+ Community.” The resolution commits the diocese to “creating and providing skilled pastoral support for LGBTQIA2S+ people in every parish across the diocese” and charges the LGBTQIA+ Committee with a leadership role in welcoming queer people into the Church community, and preparing parishes to enhance access and inclusion. The resolution also recognizes the intersectional nature of inequity in American society and encourages an approach to LGBTQIA+ inclusion that reckons with racism, socioeconomic inequality, and other injustices, which compound the struggles some people face regarding gender identity and sexuality.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ Committee hope that this resolution serves as a public statement of inclusion. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about our work in the diocese to contact us at lgbtqia@diopa.org. We look forward to talking with fellow Episcopalians, with those who are currently looking for a church home, and with those who are simply curious about what our denomination is doing to help LGBTQIA2S+ people nurture meaningful spiritual lives rooted in the teachings of Jesus.
